My First Smut is a recurring feature where we talk about our formative smut experiences. These short confessionals may include such details as: What book did you read? How old were you? Were there other people involved? What made the experience special? What role does smut play in your life?
This week, romance author Rosanna Leo talks about her literary sexual awakening. (Mmmmm…enticing heroes….)
First romance novel you read:
The Troubadour’s Romance by Robyn Carr
How old were you?
About fifteen…and very impressionable around brooding heroes!
How’d you get your hands on the book?
I worked as a student page at the local library in my teens, so I ran across a lot of books. If I recall, an older version of this story had a castle on the cover, and I was hooked by the fantasy of it all.
What was the reading experience like?
It opened my eyes to the world of romance. Before then, I’d read mostly paranormal books, but they never really had much of a romantic storyline. This one swept me away with its description of 12th-century England. The descriptions of hero Sir Royce Leighton were very enticing too!
What made the experience special?
To be frank, it was the first time I’d read a sexy story. In a way, it was my literary sexual awakening. There was something new and exciting about seeing a romantic relationship develop, and it lit a fire under me. At that point, I wasn’t sure I wanted to write yet, but that book changed the way I read. From then on, it was pretty much all romance, and I still regard The Troubadour’s Romance fondly for introducing me to a new world.
What role does smut play in your life?
It plays a huge part in my life. If I’m not writing sexy romance, I’m plotting it. If I’m not actively plotting a new book, I’m thinking about sexy scenarios. It’s what inspires me. It’s the last thing I think about when I go to bed (which is when the plot bunnies always attack) and I’m still mulling it over first thing in the morning. I dream of throwing characters at each other and seeing how they’ll work together. My characters are always with me, and I strive to write romance that’ll linger for my readers.
Rosanna Leo writes contemporary and paranormal romance. She is the First Place Winner of the 2018 Northern Hearts Contest (Contemporary Romance) for A Good Man. From Toronto, Canada, Rosanna occupies a house in the suburbs with her husband and their two sons, and spends most of her time being tolerated by their cat Sweetie. When not writing, Rosanna works for her local library, where she is busy laying the groundwork to become a library ghost one day.
My new release, An Irresistible Force, Handymen 2, is now available for pre-order!
You can find Rosanna here: Newsletter | Twitter | Bookbub
Thanks Rosanna! Ingrid really enjoyed A Good Man, and is looking forward to reading An Irresistible Force (watch this space for a review coming soon).
Have an early smut experience you’d like to share with us? If you’d like to see your story featured, send us an email or fill out our questionnaire and we’ll post it in an upcoming week.
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